Hurricane Island Center For Science And Leadership

What Hurricane Island Center For Science And Leadership does

Hurricane Island Center for Science and Leadership is a Maine-based nonprofit organization that integrates scientific research and experiential STEM education on a 125-acre island in Penobscot Bay. The organization, legally organized as the Hurricane Island Foundation (501(c)(3), EIN 26-3511908), was incorporated in 2009 and serves approximately 1,200 participants annually across 79 unique programs spanning youth ages 11-18, K-12 school groups, college/university field courses, adult learners, and visiting researchers. It is governed by a board led by Executive Director Bo Hoppin following the November 2025 passing of founder Peter O. Willauer.

The organization's core asset is the Hurricane Island Field Research Station, completed in August 2023 at a total cost of approximately $2 million and described as the first offshore marine field research station in Penobscot Bay and only the second in Maine waters. The sustainable, off-grid facility operates on a 6.7 kW photovoltaic array with battery storage, constructed wetlands, composting toilets, and a passive-house envelope building featuring a flowing seawater lab, dry room, and teaching space. Supporting infrastructure includes a 3.2-acre aquaculture research lease site, a Penobscot Bay Marine Data buoy network (Wynken, Blynken, Nod) with publicly shared data via NERACOOS and GitHub, and a fleet of research vessels. Active research programs include scallop tagging studies (800+ tagged), gonadosomatic index tracking, eDNA monitoring with Bigelow Laboratory, and long-term intertidal zone datasets built over 6+ years with Bowdoin College.

Revenue is generated through a hybrid model combining program registration fees (youth summer programs, school programs, adult courses like the $1,250 week-long archaeology course), tax-deductible donations (via the Peter O. Willauer Fund and Hurricane Society at $1,000+/year), grants (including a $50,000 UL Innovative Education Award in 2017 and a $250,000 challenge gift in 2019), a $499,161 FAME loan (2023) for the Field Research Station, branded merchandise, and event tickets ($350/person Farm & Sea Dinner). Go-to-market blends direct online registration through a CampBrain portal, institutional partnerships with K-12 districts (Maine DOE Outdoor Learning Initiative) and universities (Bowdoin, UMaine, Brown, UVM, Maine Maritime Academy, College of the Atlantic, Colby), and earned media across regional and national outlets.

Name

Hurricane Island Center For Science And Leadership

Legal name

Hurricane Island Foundation

Website

https://hurricaneisland.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Hurricane Island Center for Science and Leadership is a Maine-based nonprofit that integrates marine scientific research with experiential STEM education on a 125-acre Penobscot Bay island, serving youth, K-12 schools, universities, adult learners, and visiting researchers through field courses and research programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marine Science Education and Research Station Services

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Aquaculture (11251)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Marine Conservation & Citizen-Science Experiences (reef monitoring, turtle walks) (THAAAIAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Dive Centers & Scuba Training (PADI/SSI, certifications) (THAAAIAA), Marine & Freshwater Conservation (BPAGAGAE), Snorkeling & Marine Activity Centers (THAAAKAE)

Keywords

• Experiential STEM education
• Marine science education
• Field research station
• Residential outdoor science programs
• Outdoor student programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Rockland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Program Registration Fees: Revenue from youth summer programs, school programs, adult courses, and specialty workshops. Youth programs require 10% non-refundable deposit with full payment 45 days prior. Adult programs have varying deposit requirements. Financial aid available for eligible students.
2. Merchandise Sales: Online shop selling branded merchandise including t-shirts ($22-$25), sweatshirts ($48), sweatpants ($45), hats ($25-$32), bucket hats ($30-$32), and tote bags ($20). Farm & Sea Dinner tickets sold at $350 per person.
3. Donations and Contributions: Tax-deductible donations to Hurricane Island Foundation (EIN 26-3511908), a 501(c)(3) public charity. Hurricane Society requires $1,000+ annual gifts. Peter O. Willauer Fund accepts bequests and securities. First National Bank contributed $25,000 in 2020.
4. Grant Funding: Received $50,000 UL Innovative Education Award (2017), $500K FAME loan for Field Research Station buildout, and $250K challenge gift for station construction. Maine Dept. of Education funded partnerships through Outdoor Learning Initiative (2022).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Hurricane Island Center for Science and Leadership operates a residential STEM education and marine research campus on a 125-acre island in Penobscot Bay, Maine, delivering multi-day youth and adult programs, K-12 school programs, and college and university field courses. Programs span aquaculture, marine science, and field research, taught aboard a functioning research station equipped with a marine data buoy network, sustainable LEED-certified facilities, and a working salmon aquaculture site.

Product overview

Hurricane Island Center for Science and Leadership is an experiential education and research organization offering a portfolio of STEM programs including Summer Science Programs (2-10 day immersive experiences for youth ages 11-18), School Programs (institutional partnerships), Programs for Adult Learners, and Aquaculture Workshops. The organization operates the Hurricane Island Field Research Station as its core infrastructure for year-round marine research, while supporting educational outreach through Educator Resources (free lesson plans) and the Penobscot Bay Marine Data initiative (public buoy and sensor data). Established in 2009 as a nonprofit, the center integrates scientific research with applied education to develop environmental leaders.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Summer Science Programs (Youth Programs) Residential summer STEM programs for youth ages 11-18 with a focus on hands-on marine science, aquaculture, and field research on a 125-acre island campus. Programs run in 3 to 24-day lengths and include financial aid, sibling discounts, and early-bird pricing.
• School Programs School and district programs combining classroom and field components for K-12 students in marine science and STEM. Programs are customized for the school group and are priced per student for multi-day or single-day Island Science programs.
• Programs for Adult Learners Multi-day adult programming in aquaculture, sea farming, and marine science designed for age 18+ participants seeking hands-on residential learning experiences.
• College and University Field Programs Residential undergraduate field courses delivered in partnership with colleges and universities, including the Island Science program and Fall and Spring field terms.
• Field Research Station Access Use of Hurricane Island's research facilities, housing, and marine data buoy network by visiting researchers and graduate students conducting field research in Penobscot Bay.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,200 participants from 46 countries and 29 states in 2024 season
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and regular.

• Island InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Island Institute supports island communities and featured Hurricane Island on their 'From The Sea Up' podcast. Hurricane participates in Fishermen's Forum and works with island communities on research priorities.
• Penobscot Bay PilotminorOthers · 1 January 2023Regional news outlet providing press coverage of Hurricane Island programs, research station opening, and community events. Published press releases and feature articles.
• OPAL ArchitecturecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2021OPAL Architecture, based in Belfast, Maine, designed the Hurricane Island Field Research Station as a sustainable, passive house envelope facility. The firm specializes in design excellence with high building performance and occupant comfort standards.
• OPAL BuildcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2021OPAL Build, affiliated with OPAL Architecture in Belfast, Maine, delivered cross-laminated timber (CLT) building shell packages with wood fiber insulation. Prefabricated panels were transported to Hurricane Island and assembled into the Field Research Station.
• Institute for Bird PopulationsregularStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Annual bird banding program on Hurricane Island training researchers in proper bird banding technique. Part of broader network assessing effects of climate change on bird populations.
• Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Collaboration on scallop tagging study funded by Maine Sea Grant. DMR provides research priorities and data sharing for rotational management of wild scallop fishery in Penobscot Bay. Hurricane conducts dive transects within Lower Penobscot Bay rotational management area.
• Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean SciencescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Collaboration with Bigelow Labs on Maine eDNA Project developing environmental DNA tools for monitoring scallop populations in wild and farmed settings.
• University of MainecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019UMaine Honors College conducts orientation program for incoming freshmen focused on marine science and community engagement. Wahle Lab collaborates on larval lobster research. Partnership on Maine eDNA Project.
• United People GlobalregularStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Partnership hosting UPG Sustainability Leaders program. 28 leaders from 21 countries participated in 2023 cohort, preparing to share sustainability work globally.
• University of VermontregularStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015UVM's Wildlife Habitat & Population Measurement course offered biannually on Hurricane Island. Students conduct mark-recapture studies, bird point counts, and habitat suitability measurements.
• Colby CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Long-standing partnership hosting Environmental Studies Senior Seminar visits. Students learn about Maine island communities, lobster/scallop fisheries, and sustainable infrastructure. Historical collaboration since 2014.
• Bowdoin CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Bowdoin Marine Science program conducts long-term intertidal zone research on Hurricane Island as part of marine semester course. Partnership active for 6+ years collecting data on island's intertidal zone.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Island Institute: Rockland, Maine-based nonprofit supporting Maine's island and coastal communities through research, education, and economic development. Existing partner organization with overlapping geographic focus on Penobscot Bay island communities and workforce development.
• Schoodic Institute: Acadia National Park-based nonprofit offering residential education, citizen science, and research programs. Operates with similar field-station model combining K-12 school programs, university field courses, and adult learning experiences in a coastal Maine setting.
• Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences: East Boothbay, Maine-based ocean research nonprofit conducting marine science research and education. Existing Hurricane Island partner on eDNA work; directly comparable as a Maine-based marine research organization with education and visiting researcher programs.
• Shoals Marine Laboratory: Cornell University and University of New Hampshire joint marine field station on the Isles of Shoals offering undergraduate summer courses, K-12 programs, and research. Direct peer in island-based marine research and education with similar university partnership model.
• Gulf of Maine Research Institute: Portland, Maine-based nonprofit combining marine science research, K-12 STEM education, and community programming on the Gulf of Maine. Directly comparable mission and customer base, with overlapping university and school partnerships in the same geographic ecosystem.
• Sea Education Association (SEA): Woods Hole-based nonprofit providing ocean-focused experiential education, sailing research vessels, and undergraduate semester programs. Comparable experiential marine education model with similar participant demographics and academic partnership structure.
• Maine Maritime Academy: Castine-based maritime college offering marine science, ocean studies, and maritime education programs. Existing partner sending phycology students to Hurricane Island; comparable as a marine science education provider in coastal Maine.
• Catalina Island Marine Institute: California-based nonprofit offering residential marine science education programs on Catalina Island for K-12 schools, youth groups, and families. Comparable model of island-based experiential STEM marine education with similar target customer segments.

Broad incumbents

• Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL): Woods Hole-based marine and biomedical research and education institution affiliated with the University of Chicago. Comparable research and education portfolio at much larger scale, including visiting researcher programs, university courses, and K-12 outreach.
• Friday Harbor Laboratories: University of Washington's marine research and education field station in the San Juan Islands. Comparable as a long-established marine field station offering university courses, research infrastructure, and visiting researcher programs—broader scope as part of a major university.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• GitHubgithub.com/hurricane-island/pen-bay-marine-data
• Instagraminstagram.com/p/DDIlTJMsqPa
• Facebookfacebook.com/HurricaneIsland
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hurricane-island-center-for-science-and-leadership

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Hurricane Island Center For Science And Leadership